Hey board, I play mostly acoustic guitar and I'm doing home recording of some blues tunes I've written. I don't have Band-in-a-Box yet because I'm still looking at different ways to get backing tracks, and would appreciate some feedback/info on tracks, or ways, you've added them to a sequencer. I've found free blues backing tracks that I can download and use in the sequencer so I assume I can use them without any copyright problems...although my stuff is just for friends anyway.

Anyone have any good sites or ways to get good tracks other than Band-in-a-Box? I have a feeling you might be a little biased here though :-)A few years ago I downloaded a free version of Band-in-a-Box so I have a little experience with it with the emphasis on "little".

BTW..I recognize Don Gaynor's name from Audiominds...still posting there? I haven't been there for a while because I use MultiTrackStudo now and it's a no-brainer compared to N-Tracks.

Any and all input will be appreciated--thanks in advance!

TJ, there are many places to get good backing tracks on the web. Not generally free mind ya. But you get what you pay for.

I am a big fan of what David makes available at https://www.guitarplayback.com/

Here is David playing over one backing track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV2IEXWJ9Jc

Once I bought that one, it was off to the races.

But nothing, simply nothing, out there will provide the extreme flexibility and versatility that BIAB provides for a true learning experience from backing track you can make yourself. A door to a whole musical world can open...

Oh, welcome to the forum

Hi TJ,

A coupla of weeks ago I was looking around for a way to get backing tracks. Where to buy them, where I could get them for free, what sort of copyright issues I would have.

There are free tracks on the internet. There are places to buy them from. Some of the free ones are pretty good but not many that I found for free would fit what I wanted.

Many people and companies sell backing tracks. They range in price from around one dollar to fifteen to twenty dollars.

They range in quality from really good to well....not stuff I would want.

I looked at all the software I could find to make my own and Band In A Box looked like a good product. I got a middle of the product line copy of Band In A Box and was so impressed I ordered their top of the line product yesterday.

I play the blues and teach music part time. In two weeks I have gone from having no idea how to use the software to having one of my tracks posted on PG Music's corporate Facebook page. Point being, this software is not super hard to learn.

I am out of town till Monday but when I get back if you tell me what you want I will try and make you something as a demo of what I can do.

If you like the track you can have it for free. If you want to return the favor, help someone else or play guitar on something for me or sing or what ever you feel is the right thing to do.

If you like David's tracks then buy them...he does killer stuff.
Any one of us who survive on making music have invested thousands of dollars and zillion's of hours and don't ask much for our work.

If you want to make your own track then buy the software and we will help you learn how to use it.You have no idea how cool this site is and what great people exist here.

Cheers,

Billy

TjRich,

Welcome to the forums.

It's been quite a number of years since BIAB had a demo version available. The program has changed a great deal since those days.

The basic principle is the same, though. One simply types in chords in whatever key suits and then clicks a button to generate the backing.

The big difference in more recent versions of the program are Realtracks. These are audio recordings of top notch studio musicians that BIAB use to create the backing tracks. The demo version that you would have listened to would, I suspect, have been midi instruments. When a backing track is created using Realtracks, it sounds like the real thing because it is the real thing. If you have a listen to some of the songs in my signature, you'll hear what I mean. Apart from my singing, what you hear are backings that were created by BIAB.

Good luck with your quest for information.
Noel

• latest song: He's An African Rhino

The difference between Biab and other accompaniment software are huge. You can input YOUR song/chord progression into Biab, pick a suitable style and you have an instant backing track. If you don't like part of what Biab came up with, just re-generate your song and you have a totally new backing.

You don't need an expensive synth to get quality tracks with Biab either. They have RealTracks that are made by real musicians with real instruments and real talent. You can't fake that.

I have been a Biab user since the late 90's and if you are into music, Biab is a must have.

Trax

BiaB will let you input virtually any song's chord progression you want, and play it back in any key, at any tempo and at any one of thousands of different styles.

Plus you buy the program once, have the option of upgrading from year to year which will included new styles, and unlike backing tracks that you purchase on-line, you don't have to pay by the song.

Simply put, BiaB is the best software I've found for practicing music.

I think every electronic musician needs 3 programs:
1) a DAW
2) BiaB
3) A music notation program *

* If you don't read music or only need simple music charts, you can eliminate (3).

Insights and incites by Notes

Great info -- thanks to all! I have a couple of questions. I use a M-Audio DMP3 Pre amp to my soundcard so I assume that will work fine with BIAB and I noticed the software comes loaded with TC Helicon for harmony...anyone ever use it? I've heard the TC Helicon hardware is great for live performance. Does BIAB have any effects plugins reverb, compression, delay etc?

The 2015 Pro description includes this:

"You can also record an instrument or voice and use the built-in TC Helicon to generate multiple harmony parts or adjust pitch, vibrato and other effects."

I saw the brand new "in the box" Pro pkg for Windows on Ebay for $92 -- any reason to be wary or authorization problems that you know of with that?

As Notes indicated above - don't use BIAB to replace your DAW. BIAB is not a DAW. Use the right tool for the job.

BIAB's software implementation of TC-Helicons hardware is not even close. Never head of anyone using it live and for recording, see above.

The trick about buying BIAB is to buy the most complete package you can afford. The real value is in all those RT's that only come in the complete package. Next, keep in mind that since 2015 you have to register to keep the program going beyond 30 days. So what you buy has to allow registration.

Good luck.

Free Blues Backing Tracks http://www.the-blues-house.com/tracks.html

Boy or boy, nothing wrong with that! Nice link.

TjRich,

I've used the TC Helicon that comes with BIAB a few times. From forum comments that people have made in relation to the hardware harmonisers you mention (PG Music sell these, too), the software harmoniser in BIAB is not as good. It does the job but it can have a bit of an electronic sound associated with it. Used with discretion it can sound good but used too much it can detract from the music. Personally, I prefer to use TC Helicon in Realband rather than Band In A Box. (You will get Realband with BIAB, at no extra cost, when/if you buy a later version of BIAB for Windows. The Mac version does not yet have Realband, as far as I'm aware, at least.)

In relation to the Ebay version...

The Pro package is the entry level (most basic version) of the program. I suggest that you check with PG Music if the seller on eBay is legitimate. They will tell you. You will need to be able to register the software to get it to work and if the seller is not legitimate, this could create issues for you.

If you want to find out a little more about the different package, click on the Band In A Box link at the very top of this webpage.

You can then click on the various pacakages' tabs.



Regards,
Noel

• a recent song: Just A Little After Midnight